Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Rou Yuan

Two fish paste balls in soup - NTD 25 (about MYR 3.35 at the exchange rate of MYR 13.4 for NTD 100). Additional soup is foc. 

Next to the soup is a bowl of a single "彰化肉圓" (Chang Hua Rou Yuan) - literal translation is Changhua Meatball where Changhua is a county in Taiwan at NTD 40 (about MYR 5.35). Although it is called meatball, it is more like a dumpling with pork meat inside it.

This is also a food item that originated in Taiwan and is sold in most night markets there. I don't think it can be found here. Wiki has more info about it. My friend who used to live in Taiwan told me that this is one of the best "Rou Yuan" in Taipei.

Basically this is a dumpling with translucent soft chewy skin made of corn starch, sweet potato flour and rice flour with fillings of pork meat, bamboo shoots and mushrooms as can be seen in the photo above. The coriander garnishing makes the taste of this meatball dumpling more interesting as with the orangy red chili sauce on top. Those who like to eat soft chewy dumpling skins would love to eat this.

The dumplings were first steamed and then reheated in low temperature hot oil before being served to customers. This is a self-service small and clean eatery so we cleared our own table after we have finished eating the meatball dumplings.

阿財彰化肉圓 (Ah Chai Chang Hua Rou Yuan) is the name of this shop in Taipei. We were lucky that day that there was no queue. I read online that some people reported long queues where they had to wait for about 30 mins.

18 comments:

  1. Is the purplish sticky sauce the gravy?

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  2. I've my eyes on those two huge fish balls. The other one does not look all that appetising.

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  3. Tried this Rou Yuan on my previous yrip, not bad but I don't like the starchy sauce, actually I don't like all the starchy food :P

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    1. There is no starchy sauce here. It is the skin that is chewy.

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  4. Taiwan food seems to suit your tastebuds. I like dumplings with chewy skin.

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    1. Unfortunately I don't like chewy QQ skin, I prefer soft and easy to chew skin.

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    2. Not all. I would say only 10% because I don't like the famous crispy big fried chicken.

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  5. I would love to try this dish. The name Changhua reminds me of a big Buddha statue in Taiwan. Maybe I am dreaming.

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    Replies
    1. Maybe you are not. I didn't check online if there is one in Taiwan.

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    2. I checked online d. you are right! you are so well versed in Buddhism.

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  6. haven't seen this before...the starchy sauce doesn't look appealing....coz it looks like those starch glue...

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    Replies
    1. That is not the sauce. That is the chewy QQ skin.

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  7. This does look interesting. But I won't know how to order anything in TW since I don't read Chinese.

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    1. no menu for you to read here. they just sell 2 items so you just point point point and pay.

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    2. Haha ok that sounds manageable!

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    3. yes hope you visit taiwan with SE and JE one day and try this.

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